And the Oscar goes to… Best Actor

The nominees for Best Actor this year are equally talented. The films they worked on range from comedy to suspense and drama. Newcomers to the podium this year include Demián Bichir for “A Better Life” and Jean Dujardin for “The Artist.”

Since “The Artist” is nominated for ten Oscars and he won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture–Comedy, Dujardin has the potential and momentum to surpass the other nominees. But George Clooney, nominated for his turn as a distant father in “The Descendants,” also won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, so the two Golden Globe winners will be in the same category this time around. Still, Clooney is clearly the man to beat on February 26.

Of the choices this year, the real race is between Pitt and Clooney. Due to his popularity at the box office and in prior films, Clooney is the critics’ favorite to win. However, Brad Pitt’s incredible portrayal of Oakland A’s manager Billy Beane in “Moneyball,” should not be overlooked. Pitt always puts an incredible amount of dedication into his work and should be rewarded accordingly.

Christopher Spall can be reached at christopher.spall@student.shu.edu.